HYDERABAD: Private sector’s help in anti-Sars efforts sought
By Our Correspondent
HYDERABAD, May 12: The adviser to the Sindh chief minister on health, Nauman Seghal, has sought the support of the private sector in efforts against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
He was speaking as chief guest at a Sars awareness seminar, organized by the EDO, health, at the Sir Cowasjee Institute of Psychiatry here on Monday.
He called upon local pharmaceutical companies to prepare anti-Sars medicines and not to wait for foreign aid.
The adviser also called for adopting measures to not only check travellers from other countries but also imported goods.
He said apart from the Ojha TB sanatorium, another quarantine facility would be provided in Karachi.
Mr Seghal said NGOs should assist the government in its efforts to improve health facilities in the province.
The assistant professor of medicine at the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Dr Bikha Ram Devrajani, informed the participants that 506 people had died of Sars and around 7,053 people were infected with Sars.
The EDO, health, Dr Ashraf Bhurgari, said programmes informing the people about Sars would be organized at taluka and district-level.
REPORT: During his visit to the Hyderabad Civil Hospital, Mr Seghal directed the authorities concerned to submit him a report about the establishment of the federal-funded diagnostic and research laboratory (DRL) in the premises of the hospital.
The adviser was informed by MNAs Khalid Wahab and Ms Shamim Akhtar and MPA Aslam Pervez that tariff of tests, conducted at the DRL, was very high.
The medical superintendent of the hospital, Sharfuddin Baloch, told Mr Seghal that a former federal minister had established the laboratory for research purposes.
Mr Seghal expressed his annoyance over the absence of doctors from their wards.
Patients complained about non-availability of medicines in the hospital.
CUSTOMS: The collector of Land Customs, Rasheed Ahmed, has said that his department has formulated a policy to encourage efficient and honest officials by promoting them to the next higher rank.
He said this while speaking at a uniforms’ distribution ceremony, held at the Customs House here on Monday.
He said that at least 20 posts of Land Customs Inspectors have been created to accommodate efficient and honest upper division clerks and cashiers though competitive examinations by the end of the current month.
He said that 400 free uniforms were being distributed among the drivers, constables and Hawaldars.
